Centers and Initiatives

AGB's work addresses three aspects of the higher education environment:

• The Boardroom: What are the characteristics of effective governing boards? How is a positive board culture created and sustained that can advance the mission and goals of the institution? What best practices should be incorporated into committee structures? What characterizes an ideal president-board chair relationship?
• The Institution: What are the strategic imperatives facing colleges and universities and how can board and executive leaders work together to address them? What does appropriate board engagement in addressing major institutional challenges -- such as educational costs and outcomes -- look like?
• National and state governance and public policy: What are the top public policy issues affecting higher education and its governance? What is the responsibility of boards to help mitigate threats to independent governance and institutional autonomy? What should board and executive leaders know about federal public policy issues, and about issues in common with other states?  What leadership can board members provide on a national, state or regional strategic agenda for higher education that requires greater student access and success, and greater capacity for research and innovation?

Governance for Student Success Project is a two-year endeavor that emphasizes the role of governing boards working in collaboration with institutional presidents to help achieve the nation's educational needs.  The project focuses on three important components for success in higher education: leadership, productivity, and quality.

Ingram Center for Public Trusteeship and Governance's mission is to strengthen the relationship between state government and public higher education by enhancing the effectiveness of citizen governing and foundation boards and their trustee members. The center forges partnerships with state government and higher education associations, conducting policy analysis and research, and working directly with AGB-member boards and chief executives.

AGB's work on Institutionally Related Foundations offers foundation chief executives and volunteer board leaders a wide-ranging, results-oriented portfolio of board education programs, resources, and services designed to strengthen foundations.